Ornamental button



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United States Patent 3,087,215 ORNAMENTAL BUTTON Thaddeus J. Tworek and George M. Snyder, Omaha, Nebr., assignors to Snappy Button, Inc., Omaha, Nehru, a corporation of Nebraska Filed Feb. 11, 1960, Ser. No. 8,116 1 Claim. (Cl. 24113) The present invention relates, broadly classified, to buttons for use on garments, apparel and wherever such buttons are commonly used and has reference, more particularly, to a button which when considered in conjunction with novel accessories or attachments therefor, takes into account improved cloth-covered buttons, multicolored and equivalent decorative buttons and, in addition, campaign and identification buttons.

Persons conversant with the art to which the overall concept relates are aware that extensive and varying efforts have been put forth by inventors in relation to the field of cloth-covered buttons. As already implied one aspect of the instant matter has to do with a simple timesaving and easy way of covering buttons with cloth and equivalent sheet material. The desired result has been achieved in a practical and economical manner which will be hereinafter revealed and wherein no tools and no tedious end-tucking of the cloth or material are involved.

Another aspect of the invention resolves itself in utilizing an adaptation wherein the versatility factor is such th. t decorative buttons can be had and in fact made up by unskilled hands while still providing the professional and tailored touch indicative of work carefully done by a recognized seamstress or dressmaker.

In carrying out the invention a significant achievement in the art is herein attained by using suitably colored plastic buttons and companion accessories. For example, a desired cloth-covered result may be had by using a suitably cut out patch or piece of cloth or fabric, the same being applied tautly over an obverse surface of the button and clampingly held in such a manner that it is revealed or exposed in whole or in part.

To the end that the above result will be practical, a patch applying and retaining cap is used.

As will be hereinafter clarified the cap may be a snapon type made of transparent plastic or equivalent material, may be transparent or non-transparent, may be of a predetermined color in contrast with another color displayed by the button itself, and may be concavo-convex or in the form of an annulus or ring which is molded to assume its desired button-ornamenting position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a button attachment in the form of a cap either a full cap or a partcap wherein the cap is usable as clamping means for the cloth or patch and may be used without the patch but in all instances is characterized by a cavity for reception of a convex or domical button, the outer peripheral portion having an 'inturned resilient lip which constitutes the retaining element.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view on a relatively large scale showing a fragmentary portion of a garment or the like, showing the cloth patch wherein the cloth corresponds with the garment cloth and showing the transparent cloth patch retaining cap.

FIG. 2 is a section on the vertical line 2-2 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

'FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view on a smaller 3,087,215 Patented Apr. 30, 1963 scale wherein all of the herein considered components are illustrated.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing a ringtype cap, the central opening of which makes a direct exposure of the encompassed cloth or equivalent patch.

FIG. 5 is a section on the line 55 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a view wherein no cloth is used but a transparent cap is employed the transparent material of the cap being decorated by embedding flecks of attractive tinsel or gold therein to give a speckled appearance.

FIG. 7 is a section on the line 77 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a view wherein the entire exposed surface of the cap itself is covered with cloth, the cap serving as clamping means as seen in FIG. 9.

FIG. 9 is a section on the line 99 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view of the button of FIGS. l-3 but with another modified embodiment of the cap; and

FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view of the cap used in the button embodiment of FIG. 10.

Attention is first directed to FIGS. 1 to 3 inclusive wherein it will be seen that the numeral 14 designates what may be considered as a garment, an article of apparel, or a piece of fabric or cloth on which the improved button is mounted. It goes without saying that the expression button does not in and of itself describe the particular construction involved. While many and varied styles and forms of buttons (wherein the head or body may have any one of a number of forms, as here) it will simplify the presentation to think of a two-part button such as that disclosed in Patent No. 2,656,578. The button comprises male and female components, the male component being denoted here as 16 and having a disk-like head 18 and a shank terminating in a coupling head 20. The other part of the button, which may be said to be the button proper, or perhaps the body is denoted by the numeral 22 and it is a molded plastic unit which is characterized by a convex or somewhat domical contour 24. In the recessed sides radial circumferentially spaced lugs 26 are employed in a manner to define a socket at the inner ends thereof into which the coupling head 20 is inserted and retained. As before stated some other form of button than that here shown and described could be representative of that aspect of the combination here which has to do with the button.

The accessories, which take the form of readily applicable and removable attachments, are conformingly constructed so that they will mate with each other and also with that part of the button on which they are directly mounted for enhancing the appearance of the button. One accessory comprises a patch of sheet material shown in FIG. 3 at 28. This is disk-like and cut out from a larger piece of fabric or cloth. It is the part which is to form the cloth'covering for the convex surface of the button 22. Under the circumstances one has to determine the exact size of the patch needed to cover the surface involved. The companion applier and retainer cap is denoted by the numeral 30. This is preferably a transparent plastic cap or cover which is capped over the parts in the manner seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. The cap is concavoconvex and the concave side provides a concavity 32 into which the button 22 is removably plugged so that the cloth patch is sandwiched therebetween. The rim of the cap has a resilient lip 34 which provides the desired snapon and retaining elfect. Thus as seen in FIG. 2 the shank of the button component 16 is pressed through the fabric or garment and is coupled with the button 22 by way of the retaining lugs 26. The button 22 is removably seated and plugged into the cavity 32 and the patch of cloth existing therebetween is held in place frictionally and since the cap 30 is transparent it is seen through the cap in the obvious manner illustrated in FIG. 1.

With reference now to FIGS. 4 and 5 the button parts are the same and are designated by the reference numerals employed in FIGS. 2 and 3. Here the fabric patch is denoted by the numeral 36 and it is stretched tautly over the convex surface of the button and is held in place by an endless annulus which here provides a modified cap. This cap is here denoted by the numeral 38 and again it is constructed of a suitable grade of commercial .plastics. The inner peripheral edge 40 defines a circular opening which as seen in FIG. 4 exposes the fabric. The marginal portion of the fabric is clamped between the ring and the button and here again the ring is provided with a concave cavity 42 and an endless resilient turned in lip 44 which may be said to be carried by the rim or flange 46. The fabric is applied over the surface of the button and it is then clampingly held in a taut position by way of the snap-ring 38 which is sprung into place in an obvious manner.

In FIGS. 6 and 7 the button parts are the same and are again referred to by the same reference numerals already used. The only difference here is that the fabric patch is omitted. Instead the plastic transparent cap 48 is made slightly different. It is transparent but little specks or pieces of tinsel of shiny material are embedded and are visible through the transparent material giving the finished cap a highly decorative elfect. Here the overhanging marginal rim or flange 50 stands out, as it were, to give an abrupt shoulder-like eifect and the resilient lip 52 is turned in to provide the desired button embracing retainer.

In FIGS. 8 and 9 a slight deviation is resorted to. Here a larger patch of cloth or fabric 54 is employed and it is stretched over the convex surface of the applicable and removable plastic cap 56. Here it makes no difference whether the cap is transparent or not because after all the fabric is stretched over the cap and is then brought around over the lip 58 and is tucked in between the cap and the button and clampingly held in place in the manner illustrated particularly in FIG. 9. It follows that the cloth patch may be completely over the cap or between the cap and the button.

FIGS. and 11 illustrate the button arrangement of FIGS. 1-3 with a modified cap 72 which is substantially the same as the cap 30 in that it has a convexo-concave form and is made from suitable transparent, resiliently flexible material such as plastic. The concavity of the cap 72 conforms to the convexity of the button body 24 and the cap includes an axially curved marginal portion 74 which extends rearwardly around the corresponding marginal portion of the button body and projects rearwardly facing edge 24' of the button body to provide a pnojecting annular lip 75. A plurality of circumferentially spaced flanges 78 are formed integrally with the lip 75 and project radially inwardly therefrom, so as to seat behind the rearwardly facing edge 24' of the button body and retain the latter inside the cap. The circumferential spacing of the flanges 78 is indicated at 76 in FIG. 11.

The outer size and shape of caps can vary while the cavity can remain the same. The half of the mold that will make cavities can be used opposite various cavities that will form the outer parts of the caps.

It is to be further pointed out that in the caps shown the entire rim and cap may be formed of resilient plastic material. The cap is sometimes referred to as a hollow concavo-convex shell either of full form or ring-like form as brought out in the illustrative drawing.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

An ornamental button comprising in combination, a button body having a convex front surface with an axially curved marginal portion terminating in a rearwardly facing edge, a layer of flexible sheet-like ornamental material superposed on said convex front surface and on said marginal portion of said button body, said ornamental layer having a marginal edge substantially flush with said rearwardly facing edge of the button body, a convexo-concave cap of transparent and resiliently flexible material receiving said button body and said ornamental layer within the concavity thereof, the concavity of said cap conforming to the convexity of said front surface of the button body and including an axially curved marginal portion extending rearwardly around the corresponding marginal portion of the button body, said curved marginal portion of said cap projecting rearwardly beyond said rearwardly facing edge of the button body and forming a projecting annular lip beyond the rearwardly facing edge of the button body, and a plurality :of circumferentially spaced flanges formed integrally with said lip, said flanges projecting radially inwardly from the lip and seating behind said rearwardly facing edge of the button body to retain the latter in said cap, insertion of said button body with said ornamental layer thereon into said cap requiring the marginal portion of the cap with said lip and said flanges to spring outwardly over the marginal portion of the button body whereby said ornamental layer between the button body and the cap may be tensioned and the button body received in the cap with a snap action of said flanges behind the rearwardly facing edge of the button body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 358,080 Smith Feb. 22, 1887 2,334,104 Kurzweil et al. Nov. 9, 1943 2,701,400 Sonderby Feb. 8, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 943,829 France Oct. 11, 1948 1,038,451 France May 6, 1953 431,236 Great Britain July 3, 1935 554,552 Great Britain July 8, 1943 

